Aeronautical Engineer Career Description
Aeronautical engineers develop, design and test aircraft, missiles, satellites and other systems.
What am I going to do in this occupation?
Man has always been fascinated by the idea of flying and the Wright brothers can be
considered as the first successful aeronautical engineers in the history of mankind. Aeronautical engineers working in South Africa may find themselves in one of three main fields: general aeronautical research, as done at the Council for Sience and Industrial Research (CSIR), aeronautical development, production and maintenance for military and or civil aircraft application in the Dene! group, or maintenance of aircraft as in the SA National Air Force or the SA Airways and other private organisations. Due to the current economic situation, the development of new aircraft for civilian use is much more expensive than importing aircraft.
Aeronautical engineers can specialise in one of the following fields:
Structural analysis
This field entails the analysis of static and dynamic loads acting on an aircraft or flight vehicle, the design of a structure capable of withstanding these loads, the choice of construction materials and production methods and the performance of the completed airframe with regard to strength, fatigue and flutter testing before it is released for flight. Complex computer simulations are often used to perform these functions.
Aerodynamics
This is the study of airflow over an aircraft or flight vehicle to determine its configuration, stability, control, and performance and power requirements. This is often done with the aid of scale models, which are tested in a wind tunnel.
Propulsion
This field involves computational fluid dynamics (CFD), thermodynamics, gas dynamics and the strength of materials. It entails the choice of appropriate vehicle engines. Engineers in this field of study occupy themselves with the design, development, production, assembly and testing of aircraft engines that must meet certain power and performance requirements .
Systems
This field involves definition, stimulation, integration and evaluation of all subsystems of an aircraft/missile to ensure that it meets all requirements and functions well.
System engineers or project managers are responsible for integrating all these fields.
Manufacture and production
Engineers in this field must ensure a product of high quality. Rigid standards and stringent quality control requirements are maintained throughout the production process.
Avionics
This field involves aspects such as flight instrumentation, radar, computers, navigation equipment, communication systems and censors (for height and airspeed). Mechanics and electronics are involved in this field of specialisation.
Servo- and power systems
Advanced lightweight and compact servo-control and power systems are required for the stability and control of modem aircraft and missiles. Both hydraulic and electric systems are used.
Certification
Systematic flight tests are done on all newly built flight vehicles to establish their handling and performance characteristics. Engineers in this field have to prove that aircraft are airworthy before they are certified as such.
Requirements
What kind of personality do I need? Because this occupation sets high requirements aeronautical engineers must pay exceptional attention to perfectionism in their work. They must be able to maintain the high standards set during training. These characteristics are very important because mistakes are often fatal.
Where can I work?
Aeronautical engineers can work at one of the following institutes: CSIR (AEROTEK), Denel Aviation, Kentron, Houwteq, the Department of Transport, Airways and the Air force. They can also apply for lecturing.
There are a limited number of private firms, either performing maintenance or aeronautical development on aircraft and which therefore make use of the services of aeronautical engineers.
Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Qualified aeronautical engineers with the necessary experience in this field can work as consultants for one or more of the abovementioned companies.
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